FLEGTsopimuksiin

FLEGTsopimuksiin refers to Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) under the EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. These agreements are bilateral trade deals between the European Union and timber-producing countries. The primary objective of FLEGT VPAs is to prevent the import of illegally harvested timber into the EU by establishing a legal timber licensing system.

Under a VPA, a partner country commits to developing and implementing a timber legality assurance system. This system aims to ensure that all timber exported to the EU is legal, according to the partner country's laws and regulations. Once the partner country's system is operational and verified, the EU issues FLEGT licenses for all timber shipments originating from that country. The EU then prohibits the import of timber lacking a valid FLEGT license.

These agreements go beyond just legality. They also promote good forest governance by addressing issues such as corruption, transparency, and the involvement of stakeholders, including local communities and the private sector. The process of negotiating and implementing VPAs can be lengthy and complex, requiring significant political will and capacity building within the partner country. FLEGT VPAs are a key component of the EU's strategy to combat illegal logging and promote sustainable forest management globally.